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populace

rabble, common herd

noun poh-poo-LASS Rare

Usage Note

Populace is a contemptuous or ironic term for the common people en masse, implying a crowd viewed negatively by those in power. It carries a decidedly pejorative register and should not be confused with the neutral population (f). Modern usage is often quoted or distanced to signal awareness of its elitist connotation.

Examples

"Les dirigeants méprisaient la populace."

Natural Translation

The leaders despised the common rabble.

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